2013 J. Lohr Estates Wildflower Valdiguié

VINTAGE
Valdiguié is a very large-berried variety, requiring extra vigilance from our Greenfield vineyard team to prune to only one bud per spur and to aggressively thin any extra shoots pushing from the cordon. Otherwise, yields are too high and ripening becomes difficult for this late-maturing variety. In our winemaking, the goal is to preserve the varietal’s wonderful natural acidity and fresh fruit character. We incorporate two different fermentation techniques to achieve this. In 2013, we hand-picked roughly a quarter of the fruit and put those whole clusters directly into the fermenters in a winemaking process called carbonic maceration – no yeast or pumping over of the whole clusters is performed. The other techniques include gently de-stemming the fruit going to the fermenter, pumping over and extracting with fairly short, warm fermentations. These processes give the wine a remarkable similarity to the wines of Beaujolais, with enticing berry fruit flavors, a vibrant color and soft tannins. Malolactic fermentation is discouraged in order to preserve bright acidity and fruit character.

VINEYARD
Our Valdiguié is grown on Chualar loam soil in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. Originally thought to be the Gamay Noir grape of France’s Beaujolais winegrowing region, U.C. Davis has since identified this grape to be Valdiguié from an area in the southwest of France. Regardless of its origin and identity, Valdiguié grown in the windy, cold Arroyo Seco produces a wine reminiscent of the “Crus” of Beaujolais - Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent.

Maceration: Traditional fermentation portion was just 4 days on skins while the carbonic maceration was 14 days to pressing

Maturation: Aged 4 months in stainless steel tanks

Bottling Chemistries:

pH: 3.33

Total Acidity: 0.60 g/100ml

Alcohol: 11.5% by volume

Residual Sugar: 0.65 g/100ml

Cellaring: Best enjoyed within four years

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
The vibrant 2013 J. Lohr Estates Wildflower Valdiguié is red-purple in color with profuse fresh fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry and red currant. The complexion on the palate is equally bright, dominated by pomegranate and raspberry, with a light peppery finish. Drink your last bottle just in time for the release of the new vintage! Serve chilled.
-Steve Peck, Winemaker

FOOD PAIRINGS
Perfect with duck confit salad or as a complement to a charcuterie plate of Serrano ham, peppered salami, cornichon and hard cheese.